Electromechanical door-operating device



' 1,642,317 Sept. 13, 1927- G- Q WEBB ELECTROMECHANICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE IN V EN TO.

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Filed'oct. 26. 1926 ms@ V Sept. 13, 1927.

G C WEBB ELEOTROEEOHANIOAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Patented sept. 13, 1927.

' UNITED STATES GROVER C. WEBB,

PATENT oFFlcE.

OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

ELECTROMECHANICAL DOOR-OPERATIN G DEVICE.

Application mea october 2e, .1926. serial m. 144,318.

The primary object of this invention isl to vprovide a device which will be inoperative except when such a vehicle directlyapproaches the door or doors upon which it 1s used, or when a push button spring switch is depressed to make a connection to set the operating mechanism in motion.

An object is to provide a device of this character which will, in the event of accidental obstruction to',1 the Vmovement of the doors, be automatically stopped in operaltion through the opening of the electrical circuit to the operating mechanism.

A further object is to provide a device of -this character which will be inexpensive to manufactureand install, and which will serve as a lock to the door or doors when the mechanism is in the inoperative position.

An advantage of my invention is that it may be connected to the A. C. 110 volt electrical circuit in common use, and the current reduced to twenty volts through a transformer forming part of theelectrical controlling means.

' Uther objects and advantages as well as those referred to above will be observed in the course of the following detailed description, of which the annexed drawings form.

a part, and in which Figure l represents a plan view of the electrical controlling means.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mechanical assembly for employment with double, swing type doors.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mechanical assembly for employment with a' single sliding door.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the safety ivitch connection to the mechanical assem- Figure 5 is a detailed view of the `grooved sleeve member and the limit switch.

In Figure l, at the bottom thereof, is shown a ground plate 37, which is adapted to be set in the driveway approaching the doors of the buildingl wherein the device is employed. When a motor vehicle approaches the door, passing over the top of the ground plate which is flush with the top of the driveway surface, a contact is made electrically which a'ects the motor 39 to loperate the mechanical assembly to open the door or doors. The motor may be set in motion without .the passage of the motor-vehicle over the plate by the depression of a push button spring release switch vat a desired location, the switch referred to acting upon the mechanism precisely as the ground plate switch operates. This push button is referred'to or designated in Figure 1 by the numeral 14. A description of vthe drum shaft, the terminals 3', 7, and 8 extending through the body of the limit switch arm to contact at the bottom of the groove .in the sleeve, and ride thereon upon revolution of the drum sha-ft, between the adjustable insulator blocks at each terminal of the groove. '.lhese blocks are designated by the numerals 104 and 105.

Continuing the description more in detail, the potential transformer l, connected to 110 volt A. C. wires 19--20, reduces the current to twenty volts on wires 2 and 6.. The reduced current passes over wire 2 through switch 13 to ground plate connection at terminal 49, over wire 2 to relay A, being connected to terminals 9 and 10 on the base of this relay. When the ground plate 42 is depressed by the passage of a motorv vehicle thereupon, contact is made between adjustable terminal 48 and spring terminal 49, causing the current to pass from the ground plate mechanism over wire 3 through limit switch contacted at point 7, over wire 4 to magnet coil 5. Number 6 wire is already live, being in connection from the transformer to the coil 5, so the coil is energized as soon as the current is introduced to the other side of the coil over wire 4. Coil 5, now magnetized, causes the movable part of'the relay, or top portion (not shown as it is of Jcommon accepted construction), to close points 9 and 9 and 17 and 17. Upon closing the points 9 and 9, the circuit through the closed circuit switches 11 and 12 and the limit switch 79 is maintained after the release ofthe ground plate contact, until such time as the limit switch is opened to break the circuit, or the closed circuit switches or emergency safety switches 11 and 12 are opened. As stated, 1points 17 and 17 are contacte simultaneous y with points 9 and 9', and the 110 Volt circuit through wires 19 and 20 is completed over wire 21 to magnet coil 31 on relay B, energizing the coil, and closing the relay contact points 23, 24, 25, and 26, with points 23, 24', 25', and 26 respectively` allowlng the current to pass to the motor 39 over wires 36 and 36, and 35 and 35 to the coils 37 and 38 in the moto-r,'the entire above described operations affecting the motor to operate in direction to open the doors.

When the doors are opened, the limit switch, riding in the groove of the sleeve on the drum shaft, is affected by the contact point 7 reaching the insulating member 104 on the sleeve, to break the circuit between points 7 and 3', to open the relays A and B, thereby opening the circuit to the motor which immediately ceases to operate.

To reverse the entire procedure to close the doors, the ground plate being depressed as before, or the push spring release switch depressed, the circuit is completed through wire 3 and contact point 3 and contact point 8 on the limit swltch through wire 16 to magnet coil 15, and through wire 2 to point 10 on relay A, the coil is magnetized as the opposite side thereof is in live connection to the circuit from the transformer over wire 6,` said magnetization causing the relay to operate to close points 10 and 10 and l18 and 18', thereby maintaining the circuit back through wire 3, emergency switches 11 and 12 and limit switch at point 8 through wire 16, after the release of the ground plate or the spring switch 14. Points 18 and 18 being contacted, the circuit from the 110 volt wires 19 and 20 is completed to magnet coil 32 on relay B, over wire 22, the magnetizing of this coil causing contact between points 27, 28, 29 and 30, and 27', 28, 29 and 30 respectively. This completes the circuit through wires 35 and 35 as before, but reverses polarity through wires 33 and 34 to starting coil 37 to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor. The limit switch riding on the grooved sleeve on the drum shaft returns to the position from which it` started at the beginning of the first operation, and when it reaches'that point breaks the contact at 8-3, and leaves contact at 7-3. The working of the safety switches are described later in thisspecilication. l

At the rst operation, when the motor is started, shaft 51 revolves the worm 52 which is enmeshed on the upper periphery of the gear 53. This gear resultantly rotates the shaft 54 secured thereto in Figure 2, or the shaft 84 in Figure 3. Both of these shafts are journaled in bearings`55 and 56 in Figure 2, and in Figure 3 in bearings 85 and 86. The door facing 59 in Figure 2 supports the bearing standards of bearings 55 and 56. For greater clearness, I describe the different door arrangements in detail as follows: In Figure 2, a double section drum 57, having an annular surface dividing flan e 58 is employed, this drum having en less cables 61-61 secured thereon with a double turn around the drum periphery. These cables pass overv double pulleys 77-77, respectively, both secured to the door frame above the doors, onesection of each cable passing over single pulleys 7 8--78 to connection lwith safety switch cords 68-68 and connection to spring members 64-64, secured to the extremities of angular arms 62-62 at points 65-65 respectively, the other section of the cables passing to connection with springs (S31-63', -likewise secured to the arm extremities. These arms are pivotally secured above the doors in the door frame at points 67-67, and -are equipped at their other extremities with grooved pulleys 69-69, adapted to ride on rods 72-72, eachof the latter being secured pivotally at one end to the member 73 or 73 in the doors 60 or 60. Latch members comprised of rings -70 and rollers 1-71 serve to retain the pulleys in engagement with the rods. The opposite ends of the rods are engaged by pins 74-74, which-pass through the doors andare secured by thumb screws 75-75, andthe screws held in place thereon by locks 76-76 secured on the 'pin extremities. The doors are hinged at points 83--83. In operation of this adaptation of my invention, the drum being revolved, the cable is wound on the drum in such a manner that the arms are pivoted by their cable attachments to move along the rods, exerting Suit able leverage thereon to open the doors.

In the reverse operation of the motor, the drum, of course operates in opposite rotation to close the doors. YIn the event of accidental obstruction affecting the movement of the doors, the cables pull on the sprin s and the cords to the safety switches wor through the eyebolts 66-66 (see Figure 4) to break the electrical circuit at 12 to stop the motor until the obstruction is removed. This safety device as will readily be seen prevents breaking of parts of the mechanism under strain, by directing the overtension to the switch. d

In Figure 3, the same principle is employed, with the exception in working out, that the cableV 88 is secured over drum 87 and passes over single pulleys 89, 90, and -94 to a common connection at the` edge of a sliding door 92 at in member 93. In this v adaptation, the puliey 89 is secured by pivotal vhinge 100 to a spring 101 and to cord 99, connected to operate a safety switch 12, when the motor is revolving in one direction, the pulley 94 secured by hinge 95 to door frame 96, and having its (the pulleys) center connected to tenslpn spring 97 and cord 98 to switch 12, to aect the switch when the door is blocked and the motor is operating in an opposite direction of rotation. The member 106' is secured on the door by thumb screw 107 and that, on the member by lock 108. In both adaptations for diierent type doors, by unlocklng the pin and removing the thumb screw, the pin ma be removed from the ldoor and release it om the operating mechanism. In Figure 5 the limit switch 79 is so shaped as to ride in the groove in the sleeve between the insulator blocks, being slidably secured on rod 81 journaled in bearings 82. In describing the ground plate, the shell 37, of non-corrosive metal is embedded in the driveway so that the top thereof is flush with the driveway surface, and so arranged that one wheel of an approaching vehicle cannot miss rolling over it. Below the plate 42 is secured at 41-41 an encasement of weatherproof fabric 40, which is of an insulating character and resilient tol give suiliciently to allow the spring 45 slidably secured by bolts 43 to depress the member 48 to Contact with spring member 49.

Springs 44-44 are adapted to assist in returning the plate to normal position after the vehiclehas passed on. Ports 38 and 39 allow egress of wires 2 and 3. 50 is insulated base for spring contact 49. 46 and 47 represent the adjustable contact supporting members. The ground platemust be weather proof and constructed to well withstand the ravages of time, its use being limited to the passage of vehicles thereover.

Many minor changes may be made in theY arrangement but I reserve the right to make such under the scope and meaning of the following claim.l

I claim:

In combination with a single phase A. C. reversible motor, an electro-mechanical door operating device comprised of a spring supported insulated plate adapted to be set 1n the approachway to a door or doors whereon the device is adapted to be used, the top of said plate being flush with the top of the ,approachway surface, an electrical circuit reduced by a transformer from one hundred and ten volt supply wires to twenty volts, in connection from the motor through a. pair of double action relays to contact points below the plate, said points adapted to be contacted upon depression of the ground plate throu h passage of a vehicle thereover to comp ete the circuit to the motor, and mechanical means comprised of a drum, a drum shaft supporting the drum, an endless cable" passing over the periphery of the drum and secured to the door or doors to move same upon revolution of the drum, a Worm gear mechanism between the motor and the drum shaft, adapted to rotate the drum shaft to wind the cable to operate the doors, a limit switch adapted to ride in a grooved sleeve secured upon the drum shaft, to break the circuit to the motor when the operation of the doors is complete, and means in connection with the cable to break the electrical ycircuit to the motor when the free operation of the door-or doors is obstructed.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GRovER o. WEBB. 

